cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r  ˈkä- 

-lē-

often attributive

: a garden plant (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers

also : its flower cluster used as a vegetable

Examples of cauliflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Serve it with cauliflower rice or brown rice. —Faye Levy, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025

Cruciferous Vegetables Broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables contain antioxidants, dietary fiber, and numerous vitamins and minerals essential to aging. —Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025

Get the recipe > Roasted corn and cauliflower top these crunchy tostadas that get a drizzle of nutty-peppery chile sauce. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025

Erythritol, xylitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols, a carbohydrate found naturally in tiny quantities in foods such as cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, mushrooms, spinach, plums, raspberries and strawberries. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian cavolfiore, from cavolo cabbage (from Late Latin caulus, from Latin caulis stem, cabbage) + fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at cole, blow

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cauliflower

• cauliflower ear

Rhymes for cauliflower

• candlepower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: a garden plant closely related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers